Jones Parrish Publishing was born from a deep reckoning—and a bold hope.

We are a justice-driven publishing initiative shaped by two parallel, intersecting legacies. One is the legacy of Mary E. Jones Parrish, an extraordinary Black educator, journalist, and eyewitness to the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The other is that of Richard Lloyd Jones, founder of All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa—and owner of the Tulsa Tribune, a paper widely recognized for igniting the violence that destroyed Black Wall Street.

These names—Jones and Parrish—come together in our identity not by accident, but with full intention. The name Jones Parrish Publishing honors the truth, acknowledges the past, and points to a future where justice is not just remembered, but enacted. In a striking moment of poetic justice, a descendant of Mary E. Jones Parrish now serves on our inaugural board, guiding our vision and keeping us accountable to the very community Mary fought to uplift.

In the wake of the Tulsa Race Massacre, it was Mary E. Jones Parrish who documented what the world wanted to forget. Her book, Events of the Tulsa Disaster, is one of the only firsthand accounts of the terror inflicted on Tulsa’s thriving Black community—Greenwood. Her courage in capturing these testimonies, losses, and truths made her one of America’s earliest investigative journalists, placing her alongside legends like Ida B. Wells and Nellie Bly.

At a time when planes rained terror on American citizens, when property and life were erased in minutes, Mary used pen and paper to preserve what flames tried to destroy. Her legacy is our foundation.

In haunting contrast, Richard Lloyd Jones’ newspaper published the racially incendiary article that many believe triggered the massacre. While All Souls Unitarian Church—founded by Jones in 1921—has since taken steps toward racial reconciliation, the Jones name is still entangled with a history that demands honest reckoning.

Jones Parrish Publishing is that reckoning.

Greenwood Rebuilt:
A Legacy of Resilience

What is often left untold is what happened next. In the immediate aftermath of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, even as the ashes still smoldered, the people of Greenwood returned to rebuild. Without assistance from the city of Tulsa or the state of Oklahoma, the community undertook one of the most remarkable acts of self-determination in American history. By 1941, the Greenwood District had reached its economic peak -- double the prosperity of 1921 -- a testament to the ingenuity, resolve, and collective will of its people. This was not recovery handed down; it was a future built from the ground up, by and for a community that refused to be erased.

And yet, that rebuilding, too, was systematically dismantled. Urban renewal policies in the decades that followed reduced Greenwood from a sprawling, vibrant district to a single city block. Many Oklahomans -- and most Americans -- remain unaware of either the full scope of the original community or the extraordinary effort that rebuilt it. Jones Parrish Publishing exists, in part, to ensure these chapters are no longer missing from the story. Through the works we publish and the voices we amplify, we carry forward the spirit that rebuilt Greenwood: the conviction that documented truth cannot be erased.

A New Name for a New Era

Originally envisioned as The Greenwood Press, this publishing effort evolved into Jones Parrish Publishing to reflect a deeper and more intentional truth. The name honors Mary E. Jones Parrish, the Black journalist who risked her life to preserve the memory of the Tulsa Race Massacre—and acknowledges Richard Lloyd Jones, whose newspaper helped incite it.

We do not shy away from the tension embedded in the name “Jones.” Instead, we name it, hold it, and transform it into accountability.

We stand in Tulsa, where white-owned newspapers once fanned the flames of racial terror, and where a Black woman stood firm in truth with nothing but her words. Today, we pick up the pen where she left off—and place that pen in the hands of others who’ve too often been denied it.

Our Mission

Jones Parrish Publishing harnesses the power of storytelling—through essays, articles, books, drama, music, art, photography, and more—to advance truth, counter racist narratives, and celebrate the cultural richness of Black Tulsans, Greenwood descendants, and African Americans in Oklahoma and beyond.

We believe storytelling is a form of resistance, a source of healing, and a catalyst for liberation. Whether grounded in lived history, creative interpretation, or speculative reimaginings, every project we support must carry the weight of truth and contribute to the ongoing struggle for equity, dignity, and justice.

Through each published work, we aim to amplify underrepresented voices, reclaim silenced narratives, and inspire a more just and honest society.

Jones Parrish Publishing is a beacon of truth, a platform for justice, and a celebration of Black legacy and creativity.

Our Structure

Jones Parrish Publishing is governed by a volunteer board, with the majority of elected members being of African American heritage. The majority of the board must be members of All Souls, and a minister of the church will serve in a non-voting advisory capacity to ensure alignment with the broader mission of the church and its commitment to justice.

A descendant of Mary E. Jones Parrish serving on the board is deeply symbolic. It ensures that the very family whose truth was once nearly erased now helps curate stories that get told and preserved.

Our Why

We exist because some stories never made the headlines. Because the truth was once burned, buried, or conveniently “lost” in the archives. Because Tulsa owes a debt—not just to the dead, but to the descendants who still carry their memory.

We exist because a journalist named Mary risked her life to document truth.

And because her name now sits beside the name of a man whose silence enabled tragedy.

Let that juxtaposition remind us that history is not healed by silence—but by courage, acknowledgment, and action.

Our Commitment

We are committed to publishing:

• Historical truth-telling and survivor testimonies
• Stories of Black resilience, creativity, and culture
• Works that challenge systemic racism and inspire change
• Educational resources for schools and communities
• Interdisciplinary and intergenerational projects that amplify underrepresented voices

The Future We Envision

We envision a future where:

Black storytellers from Oklahoma are read nationwide

Greenwood’s legacy is taught, not erased

The names that once stood on opposite sides of history now fuel movements of equity and truth

Jones Parrish Publishing isn’t just about books. It’s about building a platform where the past is honored, the present is challenged, and the future is authored by those once denied the pen.

Contact us. Submit your story. Be a part of the restoration.

Let the story be told—and let it be told right.